Lee Jae-myung Heading to Daegu, the Conservative Heart, on the Date of the People Power Party Candidate Selection

Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party Presidential Candidate
Visits Conservative Stronghold Daegu on the 5th

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is attending and speaking at a meeting for the development of the stock market and protection of individual investors held on the 4th at the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, will visit Daegu, the "heart of conservatism," on the 5th, the day the People Power Party selects its presidential candidate. Lee, who is from Andong, Gyeongbuk, is emphasizing his regional roots as a presidential candidate from Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK) and is seen as aiming to sway public opinion in this area, which has been a weak spot for the progressive camp.

Lee’s first schedule on the day is to meet Baek Myung-soo in Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, and have lunch together. Baek is a young man who, in July, stood in front of the birthplace of Jeon Tae-il in Daegu holding a placard that read, "I wish I had a friend who was the president." Baek is known to have faced difficulties after leaving his job due to illness. Lee’s camp stated, "He plans to deliver a message of becoming a friend to young people without connections."

Later in the afternoon, Lee will hold a lecture at Kyungpook National University under the theme "Youth Ask, Lee Jae-myung Answers," and then visit Seomun Market in Daegu, considered a "barometer" of local public sentiment. A luncheon with local youths is also scheduled. This is Lee’s first visit to TK since the joint campaign speech held in Daegu in September. A source from Lee’s camp explained, "He will visit Daegu and Gyeongbuk, which are weak areas for the Democratic Party and strongholds of conservatism, to directly convey his policy vision." Since declaring his presidential bid in July, Lee has emphasized that, although he is from the Democratic Party, he is a candidate with expansion potential in TK, starting his first schedule in Andong.

Additionally, this visit is also interpreted as a countermeasure to the People Power Party presidential candidates, including former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and Representative Hong Joon-pyo, who visited the Gyeonggi-do area, a stronghold of Lee, the day before.

Meanwhile, Lee directly criticized the prosecution investigating the Daejang-dong preferential treatment allegations on social media the previous day, saying, "I don’t understand why the prosecution is leaking detailed investigation contents to tarnish Seongnam City, which overcame People Power Party’s obstruction and recovered public interest after great hardship." Lee urged, "I hope the investigation focuses on Yoon Seok-youl’s side’s loan corruption cover-up, the sale of his father’s house, Hana Bank’s criminal design, and People Power Party figures’ coercion of private development and acceptance of illicit funds," adding, "In corruption cases, the person who received the money is the culprit, and investigating the flow of money is common sense."